Agnes Smyth

Agnes Smyth or Agnes Higginson (c, 1755 – 22 May 1783) was an Irish and English (fl. 1764–1790) Methodist preacher.

Agnes Smyth
Born
Lisburn
Died22 May 1783
Bath, Somerset
NationalityKingdom of Great Britain
OccupationPreacher
SpouseEdward Smyth

Life

Smyth was born in Lisburn with a family name of Higginson in about 1755. When she was fifteen she married the preacher Edward Smyth.[1]

Her aunt, Henrietta Gayer, was a leading Methodist in the area and she attracted many to the movement including Agnes Smythe. The Methodist leader John Wesley visited Lisburne and stayed at the Gayer's home in 1775 where he recovered from a grave illness.[2] That year Smythe became a Methodist and she convinced her husband, who was a curate in Ballyculter, of this approach to Christianity. Agnes was enthusiastic and she abandoned fancy dresses and frivolity and she was determined to preach whenever the opportunity arose.[1]

John Wesley had reassured another Irish preacher, Alice Cambridge, that she should follow her heart if she was inclined to preach, but she should not preach near a male preacher as she may take some of his audience.[3] Her husband's patron Lord Bangor objected to their approach and accused Edward of incorrect teaching. Her husband was found not guilty in court but nevertheless they lost their living in 1776 and the following year Edward's license to preach was taken away.[1]

Edward was invited to preach by John Wesley in 1782 and after returning from recovering from an illness in Ireland, Agnes also returned to work with the English Methodists. Agnes served as a curate in London in 1782. Smyth died the following year in Bath in 1783.[1]

In 1790 "An Extract of the Life, Death and spiritual experience of Mrs A. Smyth (written by herself)" was published.[4]

References
  1. "Smyth, Edward (fl. 1764–1790), Methodist preacher | Oxford Dictionary of National Biography". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. 2004. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/67131. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  2. Matthew, H. C. G.; Harrison, B., eds. (23 September 2004), "The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography", The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. ref:odnb/59931, doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/59931, retrieved 7 February 2023
  3. Graham, Dorothy (1998). "Methodist Women Local Preachers" (PDF). Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  4. Mrs. Agnes SMYTH (1790). An Extract of the Life, Death and spiritual experience of Mrs A. Smyth (written by herself). pp. 15–.
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